DevOps, diversity, and the lens of intersectionality
One of the core principles of DevOps is to build a supportive culture, one based on collaboration and empathy. This is often overlooked in the rush to build, deploy and continuously run applications.
Empathic, collaborative environments equip DevOps teams to better understand the unique challenges they face as individuals, enhancing their ability to resolve issues together in a way that promotes a culture of blamelessness. This can help pave the route to a greater sense of psychological safety (the belief that you’re safe to take interpersonal risks, such as sharing ideas or soliciting feedback).
Best Windows apps this week
Five-hundred-and-sixty-five in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft plans to move several native apps to a new System Components hub in Windows 11. The apps include Get Help, Microsoft Store and Windows Security. A new Systems label will be shown in the Start Menu as well and, somewhat surprisingly, for more apps.
How the EU's new AI Act will affect businesses [Q&A]
The European Union first proposed introducing a regulatory framework for AI back in 2021, the wheels of politics inevitably grind slowly, however, and it's still working on legislation to bolster regulations on the development and use of artificial intelligence.
The proposed Artificial Intelligence Act has sparked a good deal of debate in the industry with many worried that it could harm business competitiveness.
Photoshop Elements 2024 gives access to Adobe Photoshop's AI tools without a subscription
Adobe has released Photoshop Elements 2024, the latest version of what amounts to a cheap (ish), lightweight version of its Photoshop image editor. Some of the changes to be found in this latest release are AI-powered tools, much like many of the most exciting changes in its big sibling.
There are many reasons some people are put off by Photoshop, including its complexity and steep learning curve. But the fact that modern editions are only available on a subscription basis is turn-off for many. Not so with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024. Here, you get the best of all worlds -- a powerful yet accessible image editor, incredible new tools powered by artificial intelligence, and an old-fashioned pay-once price tag.
BitLocker could be cutting the performance of SSDs almost in half in Windows 11
A new report goes some way to showing that the BitLocker security feature of Windows 11 could be massively reducing the performance of SSDs.
An investigation found that the data encryption tool, which is enabled by default in Windows 11 Pro, can slow solid state drives by as much as 45 percent. While it would be reasonable to expect a bit of a performance drop overall as the software works away encrypting and decrypting files, few people would expect the hit to be quite so significant.
VIZIO TVs get NFL app
VIZIO has teamed up with the National Football League to launch the NFL app on its smart TVs. This move is sure to delight football aficionados, as they now gain access not only to the NFL app but also NFL+, the league’s exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming service.
The availability spans across various devices within the United States, offering a comprehensive live stream of NFL Network and NFL RedZone. Subscribers will enjoy live out-of-market preseason games, live local and primetime regular and postseason games (although, the latter is restricted to phone and tablet only), live local and national audio for every game, and access to the coveted NFL Films’ archives among other features.
Eight ways to bolster your cybersecurity resources without blowing your budget
IT security breaches are becoming more frequent and costly. According to IBM Security’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023 UK organizations shell out an average of £3.4m for data breach incidents. There isn't a CISO around that doesn't wish they had that kind of budget to spend on IT security. The tools to help security teams do their job more effectively are out there, but getting them approved in the annual budget is not guaranteed and investment can sometimes be too late.
So what can UK IT leaders do to make sure they continue to improve their IT security without blowing their budget? Here are eight ways to bolster cybersecurity resources:
AI delivers for marketers but comes with challenges
A new study of go-to-market (GTM) leaders finds they expect investments in AI to pay off, with 85 percent of respondents believing the fusion of AI and GTM strategy will lead to revenue growth for their organization.
The report from Seismic shows that among this group leaders predict an average of 23 percent growth will be directly attributed to AI utilization over the next five years.
QR codes used in 22 percent of phishing attacks
As QR codes have become popular, they're used for all kinds of things from mobile payments to access control and even document sharing. The problem is that they can also hide risks so it's no surprise that they're becoming a popular vehicle for phishing.
New analysis from Hoxhunt finds the use of QR codes in 22 percent of attacks on its 'global human risk network' in the first weeks of October 2023.
Microsoft launches Azure AI Content Safety to filter harmful content from users and AI
Microsoft has announced the general availability of its Azure AI Content Safety service. The system is designed to help platform operators to detect and filter harmful user-generated content and that generated by artificial intelligence in their services and apps.
Azure AI Content Safety can be used to scan and block text and image-based content, and Microsoft has made it highly customizable so it can be tailored for various modalities. The company says that the service can be used to weed out content that is offensive, risky, or undesirable, such as profanity, adult content, gore, violence, hate speech, and so on.
Your 'personal' personal information
Let’s talk about the personal information that belongs to you, your personal personal information. What is your level of tolerance for the amount of data collected about you? Are you willing to provide your email to get a 15 percent discount? What if it’s 50 percent? What if it’s your phone number, too? These are all questions that we are faced with almost everyday and everyone has a different opinion.
One of the biggest problems is knowing what you are signing up for, and what personal information may have already been obtained. When you first visit a site, cookies and other technologies can automatically collect your IP address, set trackers, and more. Once you enter your personal information into other places, you may unwittingly allow yourself to receive direct marketing, allow the business to sell your information, or allow it to be shared with others for purposes you were not anticipating.
Seagate launches FireCuda 520N M.2 2230 SSD for Steam Deck, Legion Go, Surface Pro, and ROG Ally
Today, Seagate brings something new to the table for gamers and tech lovers with its latest FireCuda 520N NVMe solid state drive, designed in a compact 2230-S2 M.2 form. This new SSD is a great fit for popular portable devices like Valve’s Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface Pro, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go, all of which have 2230 M.2 slots ready for an upgrade.
You can get the FireCuda 520N in either 1TB or 2TB capacities, and it’s built to work especially well in hand-held gaming gadgets. The 2TB version can read and write data super fast, at up to 5,000 MB/s, while the 1TB model is a tad slower, but still speedy at up to 4,800 MB/s. What’s exciting is that this drive brings the kind of performance you’d expect from a big desktop gaming setup into the palm of your hand. Plus, it’s flexible -- it can fit into older Gen3 and Gen2 PCIe slots too.
Microsoft data leaks and the importance of open-source intelligence
Interconnected digital technology advances at a rapid pace, and so do the tactics and strategies employed by malicious individuals, criminal groups, and even nation-states. The World Economic Forum predicts global cybercrime will reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, forcing businesses and governments to look for next-generation solutions against emerging digital threats.
Unfortunately, deliberate criminal activity is only part of the challenge in this data-driven era. Costly leaks of sensitive data might happen due to simple human errors -- in September, Microsoft’s data was leaked two times, not only disclosing the company’s plans for the next-gen Xbox but also exposing private employee data. As we already know, at least one of these events happened due to an accidentally misconfigured URL link.
Mastering cloud cost optimization: Strategies for efficiency and resiliency
In an era driven by digital transformation, cloud computing has emerged as a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. However, as cloud adoption continues to soar, so does the need to manage cloud costs effectively. Balancing cost reduction with maintaining and increasing resiliency has become a top priority for businesses seeking to maximize the benefits of the cloud.
The need to optimize is evident, but achieving this goal can be complicated. Without appropriate cost containment and governance strategies, organizations risk falling into a continuous climb spend pattern. Often, businesses address cost optimization as a sporadic, reactive exercise -- like making annual bulk purchases of reserved instances. To break free from this cycle and achieve sustained cost efficiency, a shift towards a collaborative, ongoing and iterative approach to cost optimization and management is a key priority.
Number of ransomware victims reaches record high
A new report from GuidePoint Security's Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT) shows a total of 3,385 publicly posted ransomware victims in the first three quarters of this year, claimed by 57 different threat groups, representing an 83 percent year-on-year increase.
Attacks directed against US-based organizations decreased, but there has been a marked increase in attacks impacting other nations. Other countries consistently affected, like the UK, saw an approximate 41 percent increase in attacks in Q3.
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